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Vera Joan Kreykes Te Paske

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Birth	:	7 Oct 1917 Hospers, Sioux County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	2 Jun 1992 Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery, Sioux Center, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.0680000, -96.1720000
Description	:	Rites for Sioux Center leader were Thursday One of Sioux Center's most respected women, Vera Te Paske, died on Tuesday, June 2, at a hospital in Sioux City after a short illness. Memorial services were Thursday at First Reformed Church In Sioux Center. Burial was at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Some of the words friends used to describe her were "unique," "a great lady," "dedicated," "hospitable" and "a promoter of the town." She was all of these, and more. Her brother-in-law, Del Te Paske, thought of her as a "loyalist." If she believed in some activity or program as being important, she gave... Read More	Rites for Sioux Center leader were Thursday One of Sioux Center's most respected women, Vera Te Paske, died on Tuesday, June 2, at a hospital in Sioux City after a short illness. Memorial services were Thursday at First Reformed Church In Sioux Center. Burial was at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Some of the words friends used to describe her were "unique," "a great lady," "dedicated," "hospitable" and "a promoter of the town." She was all of these, and more. Her brother-in-law, Del Te Paske, thought of her as a "loyalist." If she believed in some activity or program as being important, she gave it her all, he said. Those priorities covered a spectrum of vital causes - in Sioux Center and other parts of the county. Te Paske, 74, was the chairman of the Priscilla Circle at the time of her death, and was a member of First Reformed Church and Reformed Church Women. She also was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, serving as a volunteer to the nursing wing. Other organizations she was actively involved in were the Federated Women's Club (she had just received her 50-year membership this year), the Sioux County Republican Party organization and the Auxiliary of Northwestern College In Orange City. She was very interested in the cultural life of the community, and remained an active and energetic worker for many years right up until the time of her death In such organizations as the Sioux County Concert Series, Centre Stage and the Sioux Center Recreation and Arts Council. Since the arts council often had a limited budget, she frequently invited many visiting artists to the schools to stay at her house, which Jokingly became known as the Te Paske "Hilton." But. In actuality, Vera Te Paske was just carrying on the tradition of the Te Paske home as being a gathering place for residents and guests of Sioux Center. The house was built by Anthony Te Paske, Vera's father-inlaw, and, since Anthony Te Paske was one of the mayors of Sioux Center and his wife, Agnes Te Paske, was also active in many community and church projects, their home was an important meeting place for the community. When Vera and Maurice A. Te Paske were married on December 27, 1940, her husband had been elected mayor of Sioux Center that same year, at the young age of 24. He served as mayor of Sioux Center for 34 years, and. during those years, the husband and wife team played a vital role in Sioux Center's development. In June 1954, while returning home from a vacation in Pennsylvania, the family was in a car accident in Chicago which killed Agnes Te Paske and kept Vera Te Paske from ever walking again. Recalling that time in an article which was published in the Centennial Edition of The Sioux Center News, Vera Te Paske said, "Maurie's mother was killed. I became a paraplegic. Maureen had a ruptured spleen. The boys didn't get hurt. That [accident] made a big change in all of our lives." But one of the qualities people quickly came to admire in Vera Te Paske was her resolve to lead a productive and meaningful life, despite being confined to a wheelchair. She maintained her involvement in the community and, then, when her husband died in 1976, in order to stay active, she began using an electric powered car to get her around town. It soon became a familiar sight to see Te Paske driving down the streets of Sioux Center in her big white car. She eventually out-used the first car, and the current car she drove was her second electric-powered vehicle. In order to help her at home, Te Paske employed an estimated 65 to 70 Dordt College women students from the time of her car accident until the present. She started using just one student, but then began employing two during each school year and two during each summer. Said one of those students, learning about Vera's death: "That was one real Christian lady." Her faith was expressed in a variety of ways. She was an advisory council board member of the Foster Grandparents program in Rock Valley. For many years, she continued hosting the Women's Christian Temperance Union's White Ribbon baby parties, which had been started by her mother-in-law. Those parties were given in the Te Paske home, and were events at which mothers took their babies and promised to rear them in alcohol-free homes. Funeral service In his funeral message, the Rev. Donald Barnes said that he had looked at Vera's much-read Bible, which had many passages underlined with comments she had written alongside the verses. He referred to Philipplans 4:13. "For I can do every: thing God wants me to with the help of Christ who strengthens me," and about passing on the baton, and running the race for Christ. "We must pick up that baton," said Barnes. "It's now my race, my responsibility." He told about how important God's grace was to Vera, and how, we, as Christians, must use God's time in our lives and live our lives according to His perspective. Vern and Donna Beernink sang Sometimes Alleluia, and Clarene Kroon was pianist. The congregation sang Be Thou My Vision and O For a Thousand Tongues. Organist was Audrey Den Herder. Printed on the memorial brochure was a prayer which summarized Vera Te Paske's life: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” Background The former Vera Kreykes was born October 7, 1917, in Hospers, the daughter of Dick and Winifred Mouw Kreykes. She was a graduate of Northwestern College in Orange City in 1937 and taught six grades at a country school, Floyd Number 8; she then taught at Newkirk Consolidated School until her marriage to Maurice Te Paske on December 27, 1940, at Hospers. He died July 13, 1976. Survivors include her daughter, Maureen Evans, and her husband, Roger, of Sioux Center; two sons, Derrick Te Paske and his wife, Francesca, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Bradley Te Paske of Santa Fe, New Mexico; a brother, Gary Kreykes, of Le Mars; a sister, Madge Vander Woude of Arnolds Park; and seven grandchildren: Ryan Evans, Stacie Evans, Matthew Evans, Marcus Te Paske, Jonas Te Paske, Daniel Te Paske and Joelle Te Paske. She was preceded in death by her sister, Frances Van Beek. Sioux Center News 1992-06-10.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Vera Joan Kreykes Te Paske's memorial?
Vera Joan Kreykes Te Paske's memorial is located at: Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery, Sioux Center, Sioux County, USA.
When did Vera Joan Kreykes Te Paske death?
Vera Joan Kreykes Te Paske death on 2 Jun 1992 in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Vera Joan Kreykes Te Paske's memorial?
Latitude: 43.0680000
Longitude: -96.1720000

Family Members:

Parent

Dick Kreykes

(1890 - 1972)

Winnie Mouw Kreykes

(1891 - 1976)

Spouse

Maurice Anthony “Maury” Te Paske

(1915 - 1976)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery
Sioux Center, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0680000, -96.1720000

2. Carmel Reformed Church Cemetery
Carmel, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1280000, -96.2295000

3. Middleburg Cemetery
Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1102982, -96.0772018

4. Peace Lutheran Cemetery
Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0989494, -96.2924118

5. West Lawn Cemetery
Orange City, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0110970, -96.0653000

6. Sherman Township Cemetery
Maurice, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9667015, -96.1444016

7. Saint Marys Cemetery
Maurice, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9594002, -96.1769028

8. Saint John Lutheran Cemetery
Ireton, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9585991, -96.2550201

9. Hope Cemetery
Hull, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1939011, -96.1483002

10. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Hull, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1916080, -96.1273510

11. Highland Cemetery
Highland Park, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0546989, -96.3510971

12. Lincoln Township Cemetery
Lincoln Township, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2000008, -96.1669006

13. Nassau Township Cemetery
Alton, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9832993, -96.0318985

14. Saint Marys Cemetery
Alton, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9902992, -96.0160980

15. Lebanon Christian Church Cemetery
Sioux Center, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0996700, -96.3578300

16. Newkirk Cemetery
Newkirk, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0661011, -95.9781036

17. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Ireton, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9681015, -96.3143997

18. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Rock Valley, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1864014, -96.2878036

19. Valley View Cemetery
Rock Valley, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1866989, -96.2953033

20. Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery
Hull, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2282000, -96.0985000

21. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Struble, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8953018, -96.2005997

22. Sheridan Township Cemetery
Boyden, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2047005, -96.0208969

23. Hospers Cemetery
Hospers, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0732994, -95.9197006

24. Union Hill German Baptist Cemetery
Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9169006, -96.3324966